Dahir Abdullahi Kadiye said he oversaw the transfer of more than $450,000 (£280,000) to the Somali pirates who were holding the retired couple hostage.

The 56-year-old, who splits his time between his native Somalia and his wife and children in Leytonstone, east London, led a party of local elders and armed men from the small town of Adado to the Chandlers' undisclosed release point.

After securing their freedom, he escorted the couple to Nairobi where they stayed last night at the home of the British High Commissioner.

Mr Chandler, 60, and his 56-year-old wife, were kidnapped by pirates in October last year while sailing their yacht off the Seychelles.

Mr Kadiye said he took on the role as a hostage negotiator six months ago because his children told him the footage of the couple on television made them feel ashamed to be Somalian.

The 56-year-old, who describes himself as a businessman, said he had no links with pirates and denied making any money from the deal. He said he was motivated by “wanting to end the humiliation of Somalis in the UK, because the British government has been good to us and given us refuge”.

As well as acting as a hostage negotiator, he helped raise money towards the Chandlers' ransom from the Somali community in Britain.

He praised Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed for helping the negotiations. "The president's office helped me immensely," he said.

Mr Kadiye, who was filmed last night by Channel 4 News escorting the Chandlers to Nairobi, said: "I am excited about standing next to the Chandlers on TV. This will make my sons very happy."

The buinessman, who also negotiated the release of Saudi supertanker the Sirius Star, owned a minicab cab firm in Marble Arch but sold it two years ago when he set up a private security firm.